In 2007 Pope Benedict XVI’s “Summorum Pontificum” made the celebration of the Vernacular Mass more widespread in the Catholic Church. Vatican II allowed mass to be said in the native language of the parish which is still how mass is primarily celebrated today. However since Benedict’s “Summorum Pontificum”, Latin mass has been on the rise.

Recently Pope Francis has put more restrictions on the celebration of the Vernacular Mass. After Vatican II there was a small group of “breakaway catholics” called the Society of Saint Pius X who celebrated only Latin Mass. Benedict saw this as a division against unity and tried to bring many traditionalists back. Francis, on the other hand, sees it differently saying that it is a matter dividing us. With the new imposed restrictions now catacomb masses, some of the oldest types of masses, might be lost. Vernacular Mass must be pre-approved by the bishop of the diocese for a specific time and place now. Many see it as a reason for bishops to move away from it. Latin has been the language of the Roman Catholic Church from very early times getting its roots after Christianity became legal in the Roman Empire under Constantine. It has been called the immortal language from this fact but it could very well be on the decline.